Today is our boy, Weston’s, 10th birthday. I can’t even begin to express what he means and has meant to our lives. He is cantankerous, mischievous, smart, fun, quirky, and very loving. He is our little Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. He can be very affectionate one minute and try to gnash at you the next if you look like you might want to take something from him. Never try and take something from him. He loves to play catch with a ball and can actually nose that ball back to you over and over so you are literally playing catch with him. It’s crazy and cool. We really should take a video of it. He loves going on walks, letting us know in the afternoon if he hasn’t had one yet that day by giving us the half bark. He loves bully sticks and cheese. He loves cuddle time in the morning, wanting to be spooned with his head on my pillow, and cuddle time at night when we watch TV, laying on me with his head on my chest. He barks to get veggies when we are cutting them up for dinner and whines to get just a little bit of oatmeal in the morning. It’s not his fault, we give him veggies and oatmeal. We spoil him. We should.

Our philosophy about our pups has always been that we chose them, and because we chose them we owe them. We owe them a good life, love, fun, walks, and our attention. They are pure creatures. Innocent. Dependent on us in so many ways. And because of this, we have an obligation to them. Every day. To take care of them the best way we can, to love them like they deserve to be loved, and to accept their little foibles and faults, because yes, they have them.

Weston is our little man. Our grumpy, moody, affectionate little dude. He is light and love and sometimes frustration, but he is ours, and we are his. I love him more than I can say and am grateful every day for his little furry presence in my life.

Words from Wordsworth

With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things.
~ William Wordsworth

Words From Walt

Stop this day and night with me, and you shall possess the origin of all poems; You shall possess the good of the earth and sun—(there are millions of suns left;) You shall no longer take things at second or third hand, nor look through the eyes of the dead, nor feed on the spectres in books; You shall not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me: You shall listen to all sides, and filter them from yourself. ~Walt Whitman

Words From Neil

‎May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself. ~ Neil Gaiman